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Federal regulators have rejected a proposal from Energy Secretary Rick Perry to subsidize unnecessary and aging coal and nuclear power plants at the expense of cleaner, more affordable energy options. The proposed rule was a not-so-thinly veiled effort to prop up dying fossil fuels and undermine modern, clean, renewable energy.

Environment America delivered 33,923 comments from citizens in all 50 states in November, urging Energy Secretary Rick Perry to back off on his proposals to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

While Secretary Perry’s proposal was unanimously rejected by the commissioners, FERC said today it will continue looking into issues pushed by fossil fuel and nuclear interests, including the widely rejected notion that renewable energy affects the resiliency of the electricity grid.

Environment America energy program director Rob Sargent released this statement:

“Today we applaud the regulators at FERC who rejected bail-outs for outdated, dirty and unnecessary power plants.

“Americans want clean energy. Wind and solar are on the rise and starting to meet our electricity needs with pollution-free energy that has no fuel costs. We should not tolerate actions that extend the life of polluting and risky power plants. And, we’re pleased that FERC rejected DOE’s contrived pro-dirty energy recommendations.

“Secretary Perry’s proposed rule was but another in a long list of actions by the Trump administration that defy the facts to appease the polluter lobby. We should not tolerate actions like this that are designed to extend the life of polluting and risky power plants.

“Renewable energy is making our communities cleaner and our children healthier. Given our environmental challenges and the threats posed by climate change, we need to work together to accelerate the shift away from polluting fuels such as coal to clean energy.”